Technologically proficient administrators and educators empower students to develop skills to become self-motivated leaders in the global community.

Wilkes County Schools envision a culture of learning where:

All users understand the capabilities and capacity of available technology hardware, software, infrastructure, and personnel resources.

Students are engaged in inquiry-based, problem-based, hands-on learning.

Students are technologically adept.

Students accept responsibility for their own learning.

Teachers use technology to facilitate learning.

Teachers accept responsibility for acquiring the knowledge and skills to integrate technology.

Administrators support and advocate the use of technology.

Wilkes County Schools’ Technology Plan

Strategic Priorities

Wilkes County Schools strive to provide access to digital resources and content for instruction. We believe technology can be used to extend the classroom beyond the school to state, national, and global levels. Technology provides a mechanism to create relevant meaningful content for project based, student centered learning. To provide these educational opportunities, Wilkes County Schools will continue our 1:1 program in grades 6 – 12 and will continue the use of mobile carts in our elementary schools. Digital learning facilitators and instructional specialists will continue to work together to provide professional development opportunities at the school level to support 21st Century teaching and learning.

Strategic Priority 1: A Statewide Shared Services Model

Currently, Wilkes County Schools’ infrastructure includes on-site storage, management tools, printing, and application, file sharing, and other services. Wireless network hardware is available at all locations to support mobile computing devices. Voice over IP telephones are installed at all schools and administrative facilities. Firewalls and filters are maintained at the district level. Google G Suite for Education is used for teachers and student email and document sharing. Wilkes County Schools connects to the internet over the North Carolina Research in Education Network. Wilkes County Schools will utilize the resources in Homebase provided by NCDPI to leverage statewide cost savings.

Wilkes County Schools will utilize and align with the following key initiatives/plans to reach for the vision and complete the strategic priorities of our plan...

ACRE

Update the analysis of the technology infrastructure needed to support a 21st Century curriculum and assessment system and to move additional testing to appropriate technology formats. This analysis will allow the transition from a paper–based assessment system to one that takes greater advantage of technology

Career and College Ready, Set, Go!

Put more technology into the hands of students and teachers to increase individualized learning options

Race to the Top Local and State Scopes of Work

Incorporate the state infrastructure blueprint into technology plans

Implement the infrastructure blueprint

Provide access to effective, high–quality, job–embedded, data–informed professional development and support for educators with objectives aligned to the Race to the Top Initiatives

Home Base Implementation

Participate in shared services hosted by NC Education Cloud where appropriate as services become available and current contracts expire

Provide and support student, teacher, and administrator access to a Learner Management System, Learning Object Repository, and web collaboration tools at each school

Wilkes County Schools provide a teacher laptop for all regular education, Pre-K, media coordinators, and EC teachers. All students in grades 6-12 have a laptop or Chromebook. Mobile computing carts are available in all elementary schools. High school students utilize laptops or Chromebooks for online assessments as well as online courses through the NC Virtual Public High School, Edmentum, and online courses provided by Wilkes Community College.

Wilkes County Schools will maintain the 1:1 laptop/Chromebook program in grades 6-12. We will continue the use of mobile carts to impact K-5 classrooms. Elementary and middle schools will continue online science assessments. Other online assessments will be conducted as available from NCDPI.

Wilkes County Schools will utilize and align with the following key initiatives/plans to reach for the vision and complete the strategic priorities of our plan...

ACRE

Update the analysis of the technology infrastructure needed to support a 21st Century curriculum and assessment system and to move additional testing to appropriate technology formats

This analysis will allow the transition from a paper–based assessment system to one that takes greater advantage of technology

Career and College Ready, Set, Go!

Increase virtual learning opportunities so every child no matter where they live can reach his or her potential

Put more technology into the hands of students and teachers to increase individualized learning options

Increase the use of technology by providing professional development opportunities for teachers

Race to the Top Local and State Scopes of Work

Incorporate the state infrastructure blueprint into technology plans Implement the infrastructure blueprint Utilize school technology funds to enhance school technology infrastructure to facilitate online real–time assessments at each school

Provide access to effective, high–quality, job–embedded, data–informed professional development and support for educators with objectives aligned to the Race to the Top Initiatives

Strategic Priority 4: A Statewide Model of Technology-Enabled Professional Development

All teachers have completed PowerTeacher Pro training with face to face instruction. All teachers in grades 6-12 have received professional development conducted by Digital Learning Facilitators to assist with integrating the 1:1 initiative. Instructional Specialists are being used as data coaches during Data Team meetings to assist teachers in data-driven decision making for instruction.

We currently use formative assessment tools such as MobyMax, SRI, SchoolNet, Reading 3D, student response systems, Study Island, Google Forms etc., along with county and school level professional development activities to support data-driven decision making for instructional Data Teams.

Alignment to Other Plans and Initiatives: Strategic Priority 4: A Statewide Model of Technology-Enabled Professional Development

Wilkes County Schools will utilize and align with the following key initiatives/plans to reach for the vision and complete the strategic priorities of our plan...

ACRE

Update the analysis of the technology infrastructure needed to support a 21st century curriculum and assessment system and to move additional testing to appropriate technology formats

This analysis will allow the transition from a paper–based assessment system to one that takes greater advantage of technology

Career and College Ready, Set, Go!

Put more technology into the hands of students and teachers to increase individualized learning options

Increase the use of technology for providing professional development opportunities for teachers

Race to the Top Local and State Scopes of Work

Using instructional directors, instructional specialists/data coaches, and master teachers, provide professional development in curriculum changes and expectations

Home Base Implementation

Provide instruction in PowerTeacher, PowerSchool, SchoolNet, and other resources available in Homebase

Other LEA initiatives/plans

Other LEA initiatives/plans

4: A Statewide Model of Technology-Enabled Professional Development Goals should be precise and measurable. See notes/guidelines regarding evaluation.

Goals/Targets

Evaluation Method(s)

Implement a plan for embedded technology-enabled professional development for teachers and administrators.

Digital Learning Facilitators and Instructional Specialists will continue to support implementation of new standards through grade level planning sessions, modeling and coaching

Support models that assist all school personnel in creating technology-enabled instruction that transforms educational practice and improves student learning

School administrators, DLF’s, and instructional specialists will work with teams to ensure understanding of the tools available in Homebase through professional development sessions and Data Team meetings

Provide ongoing support and professional development necessary for use of data to inform instruction.

Continue to utilize Data Teams to make decisions to inform instruction

Administrators, Instructional Specialists, Teachers

Data Team Notes

Provide support for teacher and administrator progress and evaluation according to NCEES standards.

Submit teacher, principal and assistant principal summary rating results annually by using the NCEES online system and True North Logic

Executive Director of Human Resources, Administrators, Teachers

Completed Evaluations

Strategic Priority 5: 21st Century Leadership for All Schools and Districts

Principals participate in monthly principals’ meetings at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. These meetings provide opportunities for professional development, planning, leadership discussions and collaboration to guide our schools.

Students in grades 6 -12 are provided a laptop. Students in elementary schools use mobile carts or computers on wheels (COWs). Wireless functionality is available in all of our schools to provide diverse learning experiences to students using these devices. Teachers use Google Apps for Education along with other Web 2.0 tools to collaborate with students within their class, the school, the district, and in the global community. Students use this technology for project based learning.

Teachers participate in Data Team meetings at the school level. District K-5 grade level meetings as well as grade 6 -12 subject area meetings are conducted throughout the school year. Technology professional development is conducted at the school level based on teacher needs and requests.

Alignment to Other Plans and Initiatives: Strategic Priority 5: 21st Century Leadership for All Schools and Districts

Wilkes County Schools will utilize and align with the following key initiatives/plans to reach for the vision and complete the strategic priorities of our plan...

ACRE

Create a comprehensive, customized professional development system to provide teachers and administrators with the skills and understandings needed to use data to inform instructional practice and make formative assessments a daily practice in the classroom

Career and College Ready, Set, Go!

Increase the use of technology for providing professional development opportunities for teachers

Race to the Top Local and State Scopes of Work

All K-12 teachers will have access to Kagan and Common Core/Essential Standards

Instructional Specialists are available to all schools to provide school level and district level staff development

Home Base Implementation

Teachers will utilize SchoolNet and other resources available in Homebase

Other LEA initiatives/plans

Other LEA initiatives/plans

5: 21st Century Leadership for All Schools and DistrictsGoals should be precise and measurable. See notes/guidelines regarding evaluation.

Goals/Targets

Evaluation Method(s)

Create and lead a vision for 21st century education

A portion of each monthly principals’ meeting will be devoted to training and supporting school level administrators in data analysis to inform instruction

Prepare teachers and administrators to lead 21st century learning environments

School administrators, digital learning facilitators and instructional specialists will work with teams to ensure understanding of technology tools available through professional development sessions and Data Team meetings